Electrodeposition anode



Sept. 19, 1950 N. SMITH ELEcTRoDEPosITIoN ANoDE S SheetSA-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1945 A( 5m, f/, INVENToR.

,BM/MW #26M Sept. 19, 1950 N. SMITH 2,523,253

ELECTRODEPOSITION ANODE Filed Sept. 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 as fri L. N. SMITH ELECTRODEPOSITION ANODE sept. 19, 195o Filed Sept. l0, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 ELECTRODEPOSITION ANODE Leslie N. Smith, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Harshaw Chemical Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 10, 1945, Serial No. `615,462

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrodeposition anodes and more specically to anodes of the type which are built up from sheets of the metal to be deposited such as nickel electrosheet.

Prior to my invention it has been suggested to use nickel electrosheet, without melting, as a source of nickel for the electrodeposition of that metal but, so far as I am aware, no fully satisfactory method has been suggested for supporting the electrosheet in the electroplating tank. It has been suggested (U. S. Patent No. 1,596,030) to stamp the nickel electrosheet into the form of washers which are then supported by means of a bolt passing through a considerable number of them and bent over to form a supporting hook. This involves considerable fabrication cost and eventually permits fragments to fall into the tank. It has been suggested also to support small vpieces of nickel electrosheet in perforated metallic baskets. This is feasible but the contact between y the various pieces and the source of current is imperfect and consequently this type of anode has met with only a limited acceptance.

The object of my invention is to provide improved electrodeposition anodes of the type indicated, overcoming to a considerable extent the difficulties mentioned and approaching as nearly as possible a situation in which the user would handle the electrosheet anodes in the same way that he would handle the conventional cast or rolled anodes.

Still further objects of the invention are to minimize the cost of manufacturing the anode, to achieve simplicity in construction and to reduce the number of manufacturing operations Vto a minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of a composite anode according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, double size, corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section showing a modified form of connector for affording electrical and mechanical connection between the various strips of electrosheet; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a further modication of the invention; Fig. 6 is a front view showing a plurality of the anode pieces shown in side view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a further modified form similar to the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but lproviding for the possibility of greater anode length than obtainable in single pieces; Fig. 8 is a side view of the composite anode Shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a front View of a further modified for'm made up of pieces similar to those shown in Fig. 5 but suspended from the bus bar by an extension permitting the anode to be lowered where the distance between the bus bar and the solution level is too great for the type shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is a side view of the form shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a front view of another form of the invention; Fig. 12'is a side view of the form shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a front View of a modification similar to that shown in Fig. 11 but omitting some features thereof; Fig. 14 is a side view of the form shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a front view. of a still further modified form and Fig. 16 is a side view of the form shown in Fig. l5.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I0 indicates generally a composite anode composed of three elongated strips II of nickel electrosheet all of which are of identical rectangular cross section and a strip I2 provided with a tapered portion I3 and a narrow portion I4. The electrosheet is available in sheets up to about 3 feet in greatest dimension and lends itself to being cut into strips of various widths as desired and various lengths` not exceeding the maximum available. In the modification of Figs. 1 to 3 I have indicatedan anode constructed from strips of electrosheet which may be about 36 in. in length, 4 in. in width. The strip I2 is provided with the narrow portion I4 which may be 1 in. in width and may be bent over as indicated by dotted lines in Fig, 1 to form a hook adapted to engage a current carrying a bar I5.

The strips I I and I2 may be secured together by a narrow band of adhesive material as indicated at I6. The adhesive material should be inert to the electroplating solution and may be composed of rubber strips cemented or vulcanized to the strips II and I2 or it may be simply strips of rubber cement applied to the surfaces as the laminated structure is being built up. Other adhesives may be used provided they are insoluble in and inert to the electroplating solution in which the anode is to be used. Various types of synthetic resin adhesives meet these requirements. It is desirable that the adhesive strips I6 be relatively narrow so that the portions of the anode strips between the adhesive strips may corrode almost if not quite entirely away before corrosion is too greatly reduced by the masking effect of the then projecting adhesive. I have shown these strips as being a little more than an inch in width. In some cases it may be desirable that they be narrower than shown for example 1/2 or 321 of an inch in width. The adhesive strips serve to hold the 3 anode strips together and if when the anode is largely consumed one of the anode strips should have corroded entirely through the adhesive strips will frequently prevent fragments from falling into the tank. In Figs. l and 2 I have shown metallic strips I'I welded at the upper ends to the anode .strips so as to provide electrical contact between the four anode strips. Current will then now from the bus bar I5 through the hook I4 to the connecting strips I7 and thence to the anode strips II. It will be understood that the thickness of the adhesive strips I6 is exaggerated in Fig. 3 whereas for convenience these strips are not shown at alLin Figs. 1

and 2.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an alternative method of connecting the anode strips together. involves punching a hole I8 through each of the anode strips II and I2. A bolt I8 is passed through the hole ISVand annular elements and 2| are provided for affording electrical contacts between the anode strips II and I2. The elements 20 may be placed between the anode strips as the laminated structure is being built up and the bolt I9 may vthen be passed therethrough for holding the anode strips in firm contact with the elements 2E. Rubber washers 22 and 23 may be interposed between the nut 24 and the anode strip II on the one end and the bolt head 25 and the anodestrip II on the other end. The bolt I9 and nut 24 may be composed of non-metallic material or relatively insoluble nickel or .it may be composed of any metal if the bolt head and the nut are provided with an insoluble coating.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown Aa very simple arrangement for utilizing nickel electrosheet in the vform of long strips. In this form the anode strips 26 are provided with supporting hooksv by the simple expedient of stamping or otherwise forming an angularly upwardly extending notch 2'I in one edge of the strip adjacent to Yone end thereof. These notches may extendat any suitable angle Vand should be of a width suitable for receiving the bus bar 28 which is to supply current. These anode' strips may be hung on the bus bars which extend along the sides of the usual plating tanks atV whatever intervals the plater may consider necessary'to give the desired anode Varea. In Fig. 6 I have shown four such anodes and it is to be understood that theymay be uniformly spaced along the bus bars or grouped together in groups having little or lno space between the anodes of each group. When the anode strips have been corroded away until they become too short for further use, the fragments may be placed in a basket in accordance with usual practice and thus completely consumed.

In some cases it may be desirable to have a longer anode than can ybe obtained by the use of single strips such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have Shown a modied form similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but affording greater anode length. This greater length is secured at the expense of another operation in the formation of the anode strips involving punching or otherwise forming holes in the strips. In this form of the invention, the anode strip 29 is provided with an angularly, upwardly extending notch 30 similar to the notch 2'I in the anode strip 26 and is also provided with a hole 3 I nwhich may be punched or drilled therethrough for vthe purpose of receiving a pin 32. Anode strips `3 3 may have similar holes 34 punched or This drilled therethrough adjacent the upper end and '75 which also receives the pin 32. The pin 32 may be aY tight t or a loose t as desired and when the anode strips have been assembled with the pin 32 in position as shown, a rubber band or the like 35 is placed over the assembly to hold the pin in place and shield it from the dissolving action of the current. It will be noted that the upper end of the anode strip 29 projects above the upper ends of the anode strips 33. The

.amount of such projection may be adjusted in accordance with the distance from the bus bar "35 Vto the normal level of plating solution in the tank so that thefstrips 33 may be entirely submerged.` .Y

j The anode stripsSS are also provided with holes 3l' near the lower ends thereof which are adapted 'to' receive la pin 381 The pin 33 also passes through a hole 39 in the upper end of an anode strip 40. The pin 39 isshielded from the action of the current by means of a rubber band or the like 4|. The anode strip 4u is provided with another hole 42 l at a lower point which is adapted to receive a pin 43 which also passes through holes 44 in anode strips 45. The pin 3 is shielded by a rubber band or Athe like 46. It will thus be seen that composite anodes of any length can be built up in very simple fashion using simply strips of electrosheet with notches and holes formed therein and with no accessories beyond the connecting pins and rubber bands which obviously can be obtained very cheaply. The pins 32, 33 and 43 preferably are made by cutting off lengths of nickel rod so that under no circumstances need they result in the introduction of'any foreign metal into theplatingsolution. t

In Figs. 9 and vl() I have shown a modification similar to `that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein provision is made for lowering a group of anode strips with `respect to the supporting bus bar, This will be found useful in connection with tanks having the normal solution level at a substantial distance below the bus bar. In this form, the anode strips lI'I are similar to the strips 26 shown in Fig. 5, being provided with a notch 48 adapted to receive a U-shaped supporting member 49 pron vided with hooks 5Il'at its ends. I have shown the notches 48 extendingfat a flatter angle than in the modified forms but it is to be understood that the angle is a matter of choice in either case, the essential being that it extend upwardly at an angle suicient to avoid unintentional disengagement of the anode strip from the support. The hooks 50 are received on the usualY bus bar 5I. The anode strips 41 may if desired be held in contact with each other by means of rubber bands 52 and 53. These are not strictly necessary and may be omitted or only a single one thereof may be used.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown a modified form of the invention somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In this form, a laminated anode structure is built `up from strips of nickel electrosheet. Each layergof the laminated;V composite anode structure may be made up of only a single strip of nickel electrosheet or a plurality thereof are ranged end to end as shown. In either case, the strips are secured together by means of an adhesive strip which is narrow relative to the width of the anode strip similarl to the construction indicated in Fig. 3. This can best be seen in Fig. 12. In the event more than one anode strip is used in any layer of. the laminated composite anode, the adhesive strip is interrupted near the joint between the two strips and a piece of metal of approximately the same thickness as the adhevsive strip is substituted for the adhesive strip to bridge the gap and form an electrical connection between the two anode strips. These metallic connectors areheld in contact by the adhesive. In Figs. 11 and 12 the numeral 54 indicates the various anode strips, the numeral 55 indicates the various adhesive strips and the numeral 56 indicates the various metallic connectors bridging the gap between the anode strips. At the upper end Vthere are metallic strips 51 electrically con nesting the anode strips which they contact. Between the two inner anode strips I prefer to drill and tap an opening adapted to receive the threaded lower end of an anode hook 58 which is adapted to engage a bus bar 59 to support the composite anode.

Y' In order to strengthen the construction I prefer to place a metal band around the upper ends of the luppermost anode strips and to taper the threaded portion 6I of the anode hook so that vas thev tapered thread is screwed into place it will push \the anode strips at either side outwardly against the band 6D and grip the strips 51 lfirmly between the anode strips to form a secure electrical and mechanical connection. It is to be understood that the band 60 may be omitted if the thread 6I is not tapered and the adhesive strips can be relied upon to hold the laminated structure together and to hold the plates 56 and 51 in electrical contact with the anode strips. It is to be understood also that a satisfactory laminated anode of this type can be made using only one anode strip in each layer. Such structure would be the result if the cornposite anode of Fig. 11 should be cut off above the uppermost connector 56.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown a modification similar to that shown in Fig. 11 but omitting the adhesive strips altogether and employing only a single anode strip in each layer. In this case I have shown four anode strips, two outer strips 62 and two inner strips 63. At the upper end between the inner strips 63 there is tapped and drilled a tapered opening adapted to receive a tapered thread 64 on an anode hook 65 which is adapted to engage the bus bar 68. Surrounding the upper ends of the four anode strips is a band 66. When the tapered thread on the anode hook B5 is screwed into place, it causes the two inner anode strips 63 to separate as shown in exaggerated fashion at 61. This causes the anode strips to be urged outwardly into rm contact with the band 66 and thereby locks the parts of the structure in the relative positions indicated. I have shown the band 66 as being made from a rod of circular cross section whereas the band 6U is shown as being made of a ribbon of rectangular cross section. It is to be understood that these are equivalent and interchangeable in either modification. The resulting composite anode can be handled in the same way as ordinary cast anodes and its manufacture involves similar operations in respect to the attachment of the anode hook 65.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown a modified form of the invention quite similar to the form shown in Fig. 11 but involving an uneven number of layers of anode strips. In this case, the anode strip 69 is drilled and tapped at its upper end to receive the threaded lower end of an anode hook 1I which is adapted to support the composite anode on a bus bar 12. At each side of the anode strip 69 is a connecting strip 13 adapted to form electrical connections with the outer anode strips 14. The anode strip is connected to the anode strips 69 by a bridging' metallic strip 16. These various anode strips and connectors are held together by the adhesive strips 11 in the same manner as shown and described in connection with Fig. 1l. In this as in previous modifications the adhesive strips are narrower than the anode strips so as to avoid undue shielding action toward the end of the life of the anodes.

While I have shown and described several illustrative embodiments of my invention I wish it understood that other variations may be made within the scope of my invention and I desire to be limited only in accordance .with the apipended claims and the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A laminated, soluble, electrodeposition anode, suitable for use in an electroplating bath, comprising a plurality of elongated strips of electrolytic metal sheet, each of a length less than the length of the anode, said strips being arranged in layers with thejoints staggered, elongated strips of non-metallic, non-conductive material interposed between and adherent to strips in adjacent layers and mechanically connecting the same together, said non-conductive strips terminating short of each joint and a sheet metal bridge interposed between the metal strips in bridging relation to two strips in the same layer and electrically connecting the same, and metallic supporting means electrically connected to at least one of said strips for supporting the entire anode, said non-conductive strips being inert to and insoluble in said bath.

2 A laminated, soluble, electrodeposition anode, suitable for use in an electroplating bath, comprising a plurality of elongated strips of electrolytic metal sheet, each of a length less than the length of the anode, said strips being arranged in layers with the joints staggered, elongated strips of non-metallic, non-conductive material interposed between and adherent to strips in adjacent layers and mechanically connecting the same together, said non-conductive strips terminating short of each joint and a sheet metal bridge interposed between the metal strips in bridging relation to two strips in the same layer and electrically connecting the same, and metallic supporting means electrically connected to at least one of said strips for supporting the entire anode, said non-conductive strips being inert to and insoluble in said bath and of a width less than the width of said strips of electrolytic metal sheet whereby to avoid interference with solution v of said strips of electrolytic sheet by said nonconductive strips until a major portion of the former has been dissolved.

3. A laminated, soluble, electrodeposition anode, suitable for use in an electroplating bath, comprising a plurality of layers, two of said layers including each an elongated strip of electrolytic metal sheet, and another layer interposed between said layers and including non-metallic, non-conductive material and metallic, conductive material, said non-metallic material being adherent to adjacent strips of electrolytic metal sheet and mechanically connecting the same together and said metallic material being non-adherent to and interposed between and electrically connecting said strips of electrolytic metal sheet and being held in electrical contact therewith by said non-conductive material, and metallic supporting means electrically connected to at least one of said strips of electrolytic metal sheet for amazes supporting the entire anode, said non-conduc- 4. A laminated, soluble, electrodeposition anode, suitable for use in an eleotroplating bath, comprising a plurality of layers, two -of said layers including each an elongated strip of electrolytic .metal sheet, and another layer interposed between said layers and including non-metallic, non-conductive material and metallic, conductive material, said non-metallic material being adherent to adjacent strips of electrolytic metal sheet and mechanically connecting the same together and said metallic material being non-aclherent to and interposed between and electrically connecting said strips of electrolytic metal sheet and metallic supporting means electrically connected to at least one of said strips of electrolytic metal sheet for supporting the entire anode, said non-conductive material being in the form of an elongated strip extending longitudinally of said strips of electrolytic metal sheet, being inert to and insoluble in said bath and being of a width less than the width of said strips of electrolytic metal sheet whereby to'avoid interference with solution of said strips of electrolytic sheet .by said non-conductive strip until .a major portion of the former Yhas been dissolved.

LESLIE N. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .10 Number Name Date 639,811 Haas Dec. 26, 1899 981,004 Reid Jan. 10, 1911 1,267,120 Rudolf May 21, 1918 1,477,109 Cowper-Croles Dec. 11,1923 15 1,801,666 Geer Apr. 21, 1931 l 2,256,820 Veale Sept. 23, 1941 2,390,863 Amidon Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date 14,823 Great Britain of 1903 520,211 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1940 392,783 Canada Nov. 26, 1940 58,956 y Germany Oct. 10, 1891 25 746,978 France Mar. 21, 1933 2,084 Switzerland Apr. 15, 1890 

1. A LAMINATED, SOLUBLE, ELECTRODEPOSITION ANODE, SUITABLE FOR USE IN AN ELECTROPLATING BATH, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED STRIPS OF ELECTROLYTIC METAL SHEET, EACH OF A LENGTH LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE ANODE, SAID STRIPS BEING ARRANGED IN LAYERS WITH THE JOINTS STAGGERED, ELONGATED STRIPS OF NON-METALLIC, NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND ADHERENT TO STRIPS IN ADJACENT LAYERS AND MECHANICALLY CONNECTING THE SAME TOGETHER, SAID NON-CONDUCTIVE STRIPS TERMINATING SHORT OF EACH JOINT AND A SHEET METAL BRIDGE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE METAL STRIPS IN BRIDGING RELATION TO TWO STRIPS IN THE SAME LAYER AND ELECTRICALLY CONSISTING THE SAME, AND METALLIC SUPPORTING MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID STRIPS FOR SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE ANODE, SAID NON-CONDUCTIVE STRIPS BEING INERT TO AND INSOLUBLE IN SAID BATH. 